8/14/2025 10:00:00 AM
Each year we honor Aug. 15 as Victory Over Japan Day, or V-J Day. The unconditional surrender of Imperial Japan in 1945 meant the effective end to World War II. Why are Minnesotans particularly connected to the end of the War of the Pacific? Because - quite literally - Minnesotans fired the very first shots of America’s involvement in WWII.
The USS Ward was a Navy destroyer with a crew who were primarily made up of Naval reservists from the St. Paul area. The ship was on patrol in Pearl Harbor on the morning of Dec. 7, 1941. Crew members observed a periscope and - using their Number Three Gun - fired the shot that hit and sank the submarine. They had the first confirmed kill of a Japanese submarine - and consequently the very first shots fired of the war. Hours later, Japanese aircraft infamously began their secret attack that devastated the American Pacific Fleet and in turn quickly brought the full force of the United States into the war.
Fast forward to 1958: the historic Ward Gun was moved to the Minnesota Capitol grounds and crew members were honored in a ceremony that was part of Minnesota’s Centennial Celebration. You can visit the Ward Gun near the corner of West 12th Street and John Ireland Boulevard in St. Paul. That is, until Sept. 2. That’s when the gun will be ceremonially removed from its location outside the Veterans Service Building. The gun will be restored and relocated to the new Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum near Camp Ripley.
The gun is set to be the centerpiece of the new location of the much-expanded museum. The $30 million, 40,000 square foot facility is on 32 acres right of off Highway 371 near Camp Ripley in Little Falls. Due to be completed in 2026, it’s a place where Minnesotans will come and not only learn about Minnesotans’ involvement in all conflicts through the global war on terror, but also to connect with our service members, Veterans, and military families. The goal of the museum is to be a premier tourist destination. It’s dedicated specifically to Minnesota Veterans.
There’s way more information if you’re interested:
